Chassis assembly, illumination device, display device, and television receiver apparatus

ABSTRACT

A chassis assembly comprises a chassis  14  and lamp clips  18 . The chassis  14  has mounting holes  33  to  35 . Each lamp clip  18  includes a main body  27  to be mounted to the chassis  14 , a lamp gripping portions  28  provided on the main body  27  so as to grip cold cathode tubes  17 , and mounting portions  30  to  32  protruding from the main body  27  toward the chassis  14  side. The mounting portions  30  to  32  are to be inserted in the respective mounting holes  33  to  25 . Rims of the mounting holes  33  to  35  are sandwiched between the main body  27  and the respective mounting portions  30  to  32 . Three mounting portions  30  to  32  and three mounting holes  33  to  35  are provided in relative positions so as to restrict mounting of the lamp clip  18  to the chassis  14  in an orientation other than a predefined orientation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a chassis assembly, an illuminationdevice, a display device, and a television receiver apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

For example, since a liquid crystal panel used in a liquid crystaldisplay device such as a liquid crystal television is not self-luminous,such a liquid crystal panel separately requires a backlight unit as anillumination device. Such a backlight unit is intended to be installedon a rear side (the side opposite to a display surface) of a liquidcrystal panel, and includes: a metallic or resin chassis having anopened face on the liquid crystal panel-side; a large number offluorescent tubes (for example, cold cathode tubes) housed as lamps inthe chassis; a large number of optical members (for example, diffusingsheets) arranged at the opening of the chassis for efficiently emittinglight generated by the cold cathode tubes to the liquid crystalpanel-side; and a lamp clip for supporting center portions of theelongated and tubular cold cathode tubes. A known example of lamp clipsof this type is described in Patent Document 1 below.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-173250

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

Depending on how a backlight unit is designed, there may be cases wherea problem occurs unless each lamp clip is mounted to the chassis in aparticular orientation. However, the fact that conventional lamp clipsdo not take such cases into account makes providing appropriateresponses difficult, for example having to resort to implementing ameasure with intrinsic uncertainty such as simply providing thoroughinstructions to workers responsible for carrying out mountingoperations.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made based on the circumstances such asdescribed above, and an object thereof is to reduce an improper mountingthat is different from how a lamp holder is supposed to be mounted.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

A chassis assembly according to the present invention includes a chassisand a lamp holder. The chassis has at least three mounting holes. Thelamp holder includes a main body, a lamp gripping portion and at leastthree mounting portions. The main body is to be mounted to the chassis.The lamp gripping portion for gripping a lamp is provided on the mainbody. Each of the mounting portions protrudes from the main body so asto extend toward the chassis side to be inserted in the correspondingmounting hole such that a rim of each mounting hole is sandwichedbetween the corresponding mounting portion and the main body. Themounting portions and the mounting holes are arranged in relativepositions so as to restrict mounting of the lamp holder to the chassisin an orientation other than a predefined orientation.

During mounting of the lamp holder to the chassis, if the lamp holder isin a predefined orientation, the mounting portions are inserted in therespective mounting holes. The rims of the mounting holes are sandwichedbetween the main body and the respective mounting portions, and the lampholder is mounted to the chassis. Because the mounting portions and themounting holes are arranged in the relative positions, the lamp holderis less likely to be mounted in an orientation other than the predefinedorientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a general structureof a television receiver apparatus according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a general structureof a liquid crystal display device;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the liquid crystal displaydevice cut along a short-side direction;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the liquid crystal displaydevice cut along a long-side direction;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a lamp clip;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the lamp clip;

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating lamp clips mounted on a chassis;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the chassis;

FIG. 9 is a magnified plan view of the chassis around mounting holes;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating lamp clips mounted insidethe liquid crystal display device;

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating mounting portions of the lamp clipaligned with respective mounting holes, which are referred to as thefirst mounting condition;

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating the lamp clip slid for mounting fromthe first mounting condition;

FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating second mounting portions misalignedwith second mounting holes;

FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating the second mounting portionsinterfering a reflection sheet when they are misaligned with the secondmounting holes;

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of a lamp clip according to a second embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a magnified plan view of a chassis around mounting holes;

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of a lamp clip according to a third embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a magnified plan view of a chassis around mounting holes;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating lamp clips mounted to achassis according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a plan view illustrating a lamp clip mounted to a chassis;

FIG. 21 is a plan view of the chassis;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lamp clip mounted to achassis according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a plan view illustrating lamp clips and cold cathode tubesmounted to a chassis;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lamp clip mounted to achassis according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lamp clip mounted to achassis according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a television receiver apparatus TV accordingto the present embodiment includes: a liquid crystal display device 10;both front and rear cabinets Ca and Cb which house the liquid crystaldisplay device 10 so as to sandwich the same; a power source P; a tunerT; and a stand S. The liquid crystal display device (display device) 10as a whole forms a horizontally long rectangle and is housed in anupright state. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal displaydevice 10 includes a liquid crystal panel 11 that is a display panel anda backlight unit (illumination device) 12 that is an external lightsource. The liquid crystal panel 11 and the backlight unit 12 areintegrally held by a frame-like bezel 13 and the like. Moreover, anX-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis illustrated in parts of the respectivedrawings are depicted such that the direction of each axis is asillustrated in the drawings.

Next, the liquid crystal panel 11 and the backlight unit 12 comprisingthe liquid crystal display device 10 will be described (refer to FIGS. 2to 4).

For the liquid crystal panel (display panel) 11, a pair of glasssubstrates is pasted together while being separated by a predeterminedgap and a liquid crystal is sealed between the two glass substrates. Oneof the glass substrates is provided with a switching element (forexample, a TFT) connected to a source wiring and a gate wiring thatintersect each other at right angles, a pixel electrode connected to theswitching element, an alignment layer, and the like. The other glasssubstrate is provided with a color filter on which colored portions suchas R (red), G (green) and B (blue) are arranged in a predeterminedalignment, a counter electrode, an alignment layer, and the like.Moreover, polarizing plates 11 a and 11 b are arranged on the outsidesof both substrates (refer to FIGS. 3 and 4).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the backlight unit 12 includes: anapproximately box-shaped chassis 14 opened to a light outputtingface-side (the side of the liquid crystal panel 11); a diffuser plate 15a arranged so as to cover an opening 14 b of the chassis 14; a pluralityof optical sheets 15 b arranged between the diffuser plate 15 a and theliquid crystal panel 11; and a frame 16 arranged along a long side ofthe chassis 14 which holds a long-side edge part of the diffuser plate15 a by sandwiching the same between the chassis 14. Furthermore, thechassis 14 is interiorly provided with: a cold cathode tube (lightsource) 17; a lamp clip 18 for mounting the cold cathode tube 17 to thechassis 14; a relay connector 19 responsible for relaying electricalconnections at each terminal of the cold cathode tube 17; and a holder20 that covers all of the terminals of the group of cold cathode tubes17 and the group of relay connectors 19. Moreover, at the backlight unit12, the diffuser plate 15 a is closer to the light output side than thecold cathode tube 17. The lamp clip 18 has been omitted in FIGS. 2 to 4.

The chassis 14 is metallic and sheet-metal processed, and molded into ashallow, approximately box shape made up of: a rectangular bottom plate;and a folded outer edge part 21 rising from the sides of the bottomplate and folded in an approximate U-shape (a folded outer edge part 21a in a short-side direction and a folded outer edge part 21 b in along-side direction). A plurality of mounting holes 22 for mounting therelay connectors 19 is drilled on both longitudinal ends of the bottomplate of the chassis 14. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a fixinghole 14 c is drilled into an upper face of the folded outer edge part 21b of the chassis 14. For example, the fixing hole 14 c enables the bezel13, the frame 16, the chassis 14 and the like to be integrated by ascrew or the like.

A reflection sheet 23 is arranged on an inner face side (the side of theface opposing the cold cathode tube 17) of the bottom plate of thechassis 14. The reflection sheet 23 is made of synthetic resin, has asurface colored white that is a color with superior reflectivity, and islaid along the inside of the bottom plate face of the chassis 14 so asto approximately cover the entire area thereof. As illustrated in FIG.3, a long-side edge part of the reflection sheet 23 rises so as to coverthe folded outer edge part 21 b of the chassis 14 and is sandwichedbetween the chassis 14 and the diffuser plate 15 a. The reflection sheet23 enables light outputted from the cold cathode tube 17 to be reflectedto the side of the diffuser plate 15 a.

The cold cathode tube 17 has an elongated tubular shape. A large numberof cold cathode tubes 17 are housed in the chassis 14 aligned parallelto each other in a state where a longitudinal direction (axialdirection) of the tubes is matched with the long-side direction of thechassis 14 (refer to FIG. 2). Moreover, the cold cathode tube 17 is setso as to be slightly elevated off of the bottom plate (reflection sheet23) of the chassis 14. Each end of the cold cathode tube 17 is fit intoa relay connector 19, and the holder 20 is mounted so as to cover therelay connector 19.

The holder 20 is made of white synthetic resin, covers the ends of thecold cathode tubes 17, and has an approximately elongated box shapeextending in the short-side direction of the chassis 14. As illustratedin FIG. 4, the holder 20 has a stepped face configured such that thediffuser plate 15 a and the liquid crystal panel 11 can be mounted ondifferent levels of a surface side of the stepped face. In addition, theholder 20 is arranged so as to partially overlap with the folded outeredge part 21 a in the short-side direction of the chassis 14 and,together with the folded outer edge part 21 a, forms a side wall of thebacklight unit 12. An insertion pin 24 protrudes from a face of theholder 20 opposing the folded outer edge part 21 a of the chassis 14.The holder 20 is mounted onto the chassis 14 when the insertion pin 24is inserted into an insertion hole 25 formed on an upper face of thefolded outer edge part 21 a of the chassis 14.

The stepped face of the holder 20 is made up of three faces parallel tothe bottom plate face of the chassis 14. A short-side edge part of thediffuser plate 15 a is mounted on a lowermost first face 20 a. Inaddition, an inclined cover 26 that inclines toward the bottom plateface of the chassis 14 extends from the first face 20 a. A short-sideedge part of the liquid crystal panel 11 is mounted on a second face 20b of the stepped face of the holder 20. A topmost third face 20 c of thestepped face of the holder 20 is arranged at a position overlapping thefolded outer edge part 21 a of the chassis 14 so as to be in contactwith the bezel 13.

The diffuser plate 15 a is a synthetic resin plate-like memberdispersedly mixed with light-scattering particles and functions todiffuse linear light outputted from the cold cathode tube 17 that is atubular light source. As described above, the short-side edge part ofthe diffuser plate 15 a is mounted on the first face 20 a of the holder20 and arranged so as to be unaffected by vertical binding forces. Onthe other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the long-side edge part of thediffuser plate 15 a is sandwiched between and therefore fixed by thechassis 14 (reflection sheet 23) and the frame 16.

The optical sheet 15 b arranged on the diffuser plate 15 a is alaminated structure of a diffusing sheet, a lens sheet, and a reflectivepolarizing plate in this order from the side of the diffuser plate 15 a,and functions to convert light outputted from the cold cathode tube 17and passed through the diffuser plate 15 a into planar light. The liquidcrystal panel 11 is installed on an upper face-side of the optical sheet15 b. The optical sheet 15 b is held between the diffuser plate 15 a andthe liquid crystal panel 11.

The lamp clip 18 will now be described in detail. The lamp clip 18 ismade of synthetic resin (for example, polycarbonate) and has a surfacecolored white that is a color with superior reflectivity. As illustratedin FIG. 5 or 6, the lamp clip 18 has an approximately plate-like shapealong the chassis 14 and the bottom plate of the reflection sheet 23,and includes a main body 27 (mounting plate, base portion) that isapproximately rectangular as seen in plan view. The lamp clip 18 ismounted to the chassis 14 such that a longitudinal direction (long-sidedirection) of the main body 27 follows the Y-axis direction and theposture (orientation, state) of the lamp clip 18 is approximatelyparallel to the short-side direction of the chassis 14 or, in otherwords, approximately parallel to a direction perpendicular to an axialdirection (longitudinal direction, X-axis direction) of the cold cathodetube 17. Hereinafter, the upper side with respect to the Z-axisdirection as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be referred to as a frontside and the opposite lower side will be referred to as a rear side.

On a surface of the main body 27 (the surface that faces the diffuserplate 15 a and the cold cathode tubes 17, the surface away from thechassis 14), lamp gripping portions 28 for supporting the cold cathodetubes 17 at a predetermined vertical position and a supporting pin 29for supporting the diffuser plate 15 a at a position higher than thecold cathode tubes 17 are provided. A plurality (four in the presentembodiment) of the lamp gripping portions 28 are separated from eachother in the longitudinal direction of the main body 27 so as to gripdifferent cold cathode tubes 17. Intervals between the lamp grippingportions 28 are approximately equal to each other and to intervalsbetween the cold cathode tubes 17 arranged in the chassis 14. The lampgripping portions 28 are arranged symmetrically with respect to amidpoint BC of the main body 27 or, more specifically, a midpoint of thelong side of the main body 27 (with respect to the longitudinaldirection or the Y-axis direction) that is also a mid point of the shortside of the main body 27 (with respect to the width direction or theX-axis direction). The lamp gripping portions 28 are arranged off themidpoint BC of the main body by a predetermined distance. The supportingpin 29 is arranged with the center thereof on the midpoint BC of themain body 27. In other words, the supporting pin 29 is concentricallyarranged with respect to the main body 27. The supporting pin 29 isarranged at an approximately central position between both lamp grippingportions 28 arranged towards the center. On the other hand, on a rearsurface (the surface that faces the chassis 14 and the reflection sheet23, the surface away from the diffuser plate 15 a and the cold cathodetubes 17) of the main body 27, three mounting portions 30 to 32 forholding the lamp clips 18 to the chassis 14 are provided. The mountingportions 30 to 32 are separated from each other in the long-sidedirection of the main body 27. To distinguish the mounting portions 30to 32 from each other, in order from the left side of FIG. 5, themounting portions will be referred to as a first mounting portion 30, asecond mounting portion 31, and a third mounting portion 32.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the lamp clips 18 are installed at a pluralityof positions dispersed on inner faces of the chassis 14 and thereflection sheet 23. The arrangement of the lamp clips 18 will bedescribed below. The lamp clips 18 are installed aligned at a pluralityof positions separated from each other in the long-side direction(X-axis direction) of the chassis 14 and the reflection sheet 23 and, asa result, are capable of gripping the cold cathode tubes 17 at aplurality of positions separated from each other in the axial direction.Furthermore, the number of lamp clips 18 installed on the chassis 14 andthe bottom plate of the reflection sheet 23 is greater towards thecenter than towards both ends in the short-side direction (Y-axisdirection). Specifically, compared to two groups of three lamp clips 18installed separated from each other in the long-side direction near thecenter in the short-side direction of the chassis 14 and the reflectionsheet 23, pairs of lamp clips 18 are installed separated in thelong-side direction of the chassis 14 and the reflection sheet 23 nearboth ends in the short-side direction as seen from the six lamp clips 18near the center. Accordingly, the number of lamp gripping portions 28or, in other words, support locations with respect to the cold cathodetubes 17, as well as the number of supporting pins 29 or, in otherwords, support locations with respect to the diffuser plate 15 a, aregreater near the center in the short-side direction of the chassis 14and the reflection sheet 23 than near both ends.

Each lamp clip 18 (each of the lamp clips 18 arranged near both ends inthe short-side direction as compared to near the center thereof) alignedin pairs in the long-side direction of the chassis 14 and the reflectionsheet 23 is arranged at a position displaced in the long-side directionfrom a lamp clip 18 adjacent in the short-side direction. Therefore,compared to a hypothetical case where the lamp clips 18 are arranged ina single row along the short-side direction, the dispersed arrangementof the lamp clips 18 in the bottom plate face of the reflection sheet 23makes shadows of the lamp clips 18 less visible due to characteristicsof the human eye. In other words, even if the numbers of the lamp clips18 are the same, a linear or concentrated arrangement makes the lampclips 18 more visible due to characteristics of the human eye. On theother hand, by arranging the lamp clips 18 so as to be dispersed as inthe present embodiment, luminance unevenness is less likely to occur atthe backlight unit 12 even if light reflectance differs between thereflection sheet 23 and the lamp clips 18.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 8, three each of mounting holes 33to 35 and insertion holes 36 to 38 for enabling the mounting portions 30to 32 to be inserted into scheduled mounting positions of the lamp clips18 are respectively formed penetrating in a thickness direction on thechassis 14 and the inner face of the bottom plate of the reflectionsheet 23. To distinguish the mounting holes 33 to 35 and the insertionholes 36 to 38 from each other, in order from the left sides of FIGS. 9and 10, the mounting holes and the insertion holes will be referred toas a first mounting hole 33 and a first insertion hole 36, a secondmounting hole 34 and a second insertion hole 37, and a third mountinghole 35 and a third insertion hole 38. The mounting portions 30 to 32,the mounting holes 33 to 35, and the insertion holes 36 to 38 will bedescribed later in detail.

The lamp gripping portion 28 that constitutes a supporting structure ofthe cold cathode tube 17 will now be described in detail. As illustratedin FIG. 10, the lamp gripping portion 28 is capable of supporting acentral position between both ends where electrodes are installed amongthe cold cathode tube 17 or, in other words, a light emitting portionthereof, from a rear side to a vertical position slightly elevated fromthe reflection sheet 23. The lamp gripping portion 28 has, overall, anopen-ended ring shape opened to the front side, and includes a pair ofarm portions 39 opposing each other. An opening 40 that permits passageof the cold cathode tube 17 that is attached and detached along theZ-axis direction (thickness directions of the chassis 14 and the bottomplate of the reflection sheet 23) is secured between the tips of botharm portions 39. Both arm portions 39 have cantilever forms respectivelyrising from positions on a front-side face of the main body 27 separatedfrom each other in a longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction), and haveshapes bent in an approximate arc. The curvature of both arm portions 39is approximately consistent with a curvature of an outer circumferentialface of the cold cathode tube 17 to be mounted, and in a mounted state,a gap created between the cold cathode tube 17 is to have anapproximately constant width in a circumferential direction. Both armportions 39 have shapes symmetrical with respect to a symmetrical axisalong the Z-axis direction and passing through a center position of thelamp gripping portion 28 in the Y-axis direction. Both arm portions 39are configured so as to be elastically deformable along a widthdirection with respect to a rising base end from the main body 27 as apivot point. In addition, the arm portions 39 are configured such thatwidth dimensions thereof are smaller than the width dimension of themain body 27.

Holding projections 41 for holding the cold cathode tube 17 arerespectively provided on inner faces (circumferential surfaces opposingthe cold cathode tube 17) of the tips of both arm portions 39. Theopening 40 described above is secured between both holding protrusions41. The clearance of the opening 40 is set so as to be slightly narrowerthan an outside diameter of the cold cathode tube 17. Therefore, botharm portions 39 are configured so as to be elastically expanded anddeformed when pushed by the cold cathode tube 17 during attachment ordetachment of the cold cathode tube 17 through the opening 40. Theholding projection 41 is formed so as to jut out inwards (towards acentral axis line of the cold cathode tube 17) from an inner face of thetip of the arm portion 39, and is arranged at a position that covers thecold cathode tube 17 from the front side (light output side) or, inother words, a position on the side of an extracting direction of thecold cathode tube 17. In a mounted state, the cold cathode tube 17 isconfigured so as to receive three-point support from a central firstsupporting point positioned directly below the center of the coldcathode tube 17, and second and third supporting points on inner ends ofboth holding projections 41 among the bottom face of the lamp grippingportion 28. At the intervals of the supporting points, a slight gap(clearance) extending in a circumferential direction is to be providedbetween the outer circumferential face of the cold cathode tube 17 andthe inner circumferential face of the lamp gripping portion 28.

Guide portions 42 for guiding a mounting operation of the cold cathodetube 17 are respectively provided on outer faces of the tips of both armportions 39. Both guide portions 42 are formed so as to have a taperedshape rising obliquely outward from the arm portions 39. Both guideportions 42 have inclines that separate from each other from aprotruding base end to a protruding tip. Inner faces opposing the coldcathode tube 17 are also configured as sloped faces with similarinclines. Therefore, an interval of inner faces of both guide portions42 that oppose each other gradually becomes narrower towards the bottomof FIG. 10 or, in other words, towards the side of a mounting directionof the cold cathode tube 17, and conversely gradually becomes widertowards the side of a removing direction of the cold cathode tube 17.Accordingly, the mounting operation of the cold cathode tube 17 can besmoothly guided by the inner faces of both guide portions 42. Inaddition, the inner faces of the guide portions 42 are smoothlyconnected as-is to the inner faces of the holding projections 41.

Next, the supporting pin 29 constituting a support structure of thediffuser plate 15 a will be described in detail. As illustrated in FIG.10, the supporting pin 29 is capable of restricting bowing and warpingof the diffuser plate 15 a to the side of the cold cathode tube 17 bysupporting the diffuser plate 15 a from the rear side at a part closerto the center of the screen than an outer area supported by the holder20 and the like. The supporting pin 29 is configured such that the shapeof a cross section thereof cut along a horizontal direction is circular(FIG. 5) and is formed so as to have a tapered shape whose diametergradually decreases from a root side towards a tip side. In other words,the supporting pin 29 is formed so as to have an approximately conicalshape. A tip of the supporting pin 29 capable of coming into contactwith the diffuser plate 15 a is formed with an R face and is rounded.The protruding height of the supporting pin 29 from the main body 27 isset higher than the lamp gripping portion 28. Accordingly, thesupporting pin 29 is a site that protrudes the highest among the lampclip 18. Therefore, when performing an attaching/detaching operation ofthe lamp clip 18 to/from the chassis 14, a worker can perform theoperation by grasping the supporting pin 29. As a result, the supportingpin 29 is also able to function as an operating unit duringattachment/detachment.

Next, the mounting portions 30 to 32 constituting a holding structure ofthe lamp clip 18 with respect to the chassis 14 will be described indetail together with the mounting holes 33 to 35 and the insertion holes36 to 38 of the chassis 14 and the reflection sheet 23. As illustratedin FIGS. 5, 6, and 10, the mounting portions 30 to 32 include: baseportions 30 a to 32 a protruding from the rear face of the main body 27to a rear side (the chassis 14 side) along the Z-axis direction; andextending portions 30 b to 32 b that extend from the distal ends of therespective base portions 30 a to 32 a in X-axis and Y-axis directions (adirection along the main body 27). The base portions 30 a to 32 a areconfigured so as to have a circular cross-sectional shape and a diameterapproximately constant across entire lengths thereof. In other words,the base portions 30 a to 32 a are cylindrically formed. The extendingportions 30 b to 32 b have a flange shape radially spreading from thedistal ends of the respective base portions 30 a to 32 a. The extendingportions 30 b to 32 b are formed as circular plates as seen in plan viewwhose diameters are larger than the base portions 30 a to 32 a. Theextending portions 30 b to 32 b are arranged concentrically with respectto the base portions 30 a to 32 a. In addition, centers 30C to 32C ofthe mounting portions 30 to 32 are arranged at positions consistent inthe Y-axis direction with respect to the center positions in the Y-axisdirection of corresponding lamp gripping portions 28 and a central axisline of the cold cathode tube 17.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the mounting holes 33 to 35provided on the chassis 14 include: large diameter portions 33 a to 35 awith relatively large diameter sizes; small diameter portions 33 b to 35b arranged at positions separated by predetermined intervals from thelarge diameter portions 33 a to 35 a and having relatively smalldiameter sizes; and communicating portions 33 c to 35 c that communicatethe large diameter portions 33 a to 35 a with the small diameterportions 33 b to 35 b. The large diameter portions 33 a to 35 a and thesmall diameter portions 33 b to 35 b are both formed circular as seen inplan view. The communicating portions 33 c to 35 c that communicate thelarge diameter portions 33 a to 35 a with the small diameter portions 33b to 35 b are configured so as to have straight shapes with constantwidths as seen in plan view.

The large diameter portions 33 a to 35 a are formed such that diametersizes thereof are greater than the diameter sizes of the extendingportions 30 b to 32 b at the mounting portions 30 to 32. Accordingly,the extending portions 30 b to 32 b or, in other words, the mountingportions 30 to 32 can be inserted into the large diameter portions 33 ato 35 a. In comparison, the small diameter portions 33 b to 35 b areformed such that diameter sizes thereof are greater than the diametersizes of the base portions 30 a to 32 a at the mounting portions 30 to32 but smaller than the diameter sizes of the extending portions 30 b to32 b.

The large diameter portions 33 a to 35 a and the small diameter portions33 b to 35 b are arranged aligned along the X-axis direction (thelongitudinal direction of the cold cathode tube 17, the short-sidedirection of the main body 27). In other words, the large diameterportions 33 a to 35 a and the small diameter portions 33 b to 35 b arearranged such that lines connecting centers 33 aC to 35 aC and 33 bC to35 bC thereof become parallel with the X-axis direction. The smalldiameter portions 33 b to 35 b are arranged at positions displacedtowards the near side as illustrated in FIG. 9 (the left side in FIG. 8)with respect to the large diameter portions 33 a to 35 a. In addition,the communicating portions 33 c to 35 c are formed such that width sizesthereof are greater than the diameter sizes of the base portions 30 a to32 a at the mounting portions 30 to 32 but smaller than the diametersizes of the small diameter portions 33 b to 35 b so as to enable thebase portions 30 a to 32 a to move through the communicating portions 33c to 35 c between the large diameter portions 33 a to 35 a and the smalldiameter portions 33 b to 35 b. Moreover, center positions in the widthdirection of the communicating portions 33 c to 35 c are arranged onlines connecting the centers 33 aC to 35 aC of the large diameterportions 33 a to 35 a and the centers 33 bC to 35 bC of the smalldiameter portions 33 b to 35 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the insertion holes 36 to 38 formed on thereflection sheet 23 are arranged at positions consistent with themounting holes 33 to 35 when the reflection sheet 23 is laid in thechassis 14. With the exception of being formed so as to be slightlylarger than the mounting holes 33 to 35 of the chassis 14, the shapes ofthe insertion holes 36 to 38 as seen in plan view are similar to theshapes of the mounting holes 33 to 35. Moreover, the difference in sizesbetween the mounting holes 33 to 35 and the insertion holes 36 to 38 isset to the same or greater than an assumed maximum value of a positionaldisplacement that may occur between the mounting holes 33 to 35 and theinsertion holes 36 to 38 when assembling the reflection sheet 23 ontothe chassis 14. Accordingly, the mounting holes 33 to 35 are reliablyarranged on the insides of the insertion holes 36 to 38. As a result,situations where the mounting holes 33 to 35 are covered by thereflection sheet 23 can be avoided.

The lamp clip 18 is mounted onto the chassis 14 as described below. Thatis, when the lamp clip 18 is pushed into the chassis 14 in a state whereall of the mounting portions 30 to 32 are concentrically matched(aligned) with corresponding mounting holes 33 to 35 and the largediameter portions 33 a to 35 a of the insertion holes 36 to 38, theextending portions 30 b to 32 b of the mounting portions 30 to 32 areinserted into the insertion holes 36 to 38 and the large diameterportions 33 a to 35 a of the mounting holes 33 to 35 (FIG. 11). As thelamp clip 18 is slid in the X-axis direction (the short-side directionof the main body 27) from the side of the large diameter portions 33 ato 35 a to the side of the small diameter portions 33 b to 35 b from astate where the extending portions 30 b to 32 b are protruding to therear side of the chassis 14, the base portions 30 a to 32 a travelthrough the communicating portions 33 c to 35 c to move the mountingportions 30 to 32 from the large diameter portions 33 a to 35 a to thesmall diameter portions 33 b to 35 b. In a mounted state, the mountingportions 30 to 32 are concentrically arranged with respect to the smalldiameter portions 33 b to 35 b of the mounting holes 33 to 35 and rimsof the small diameter portions 33 b to 35 b of the mounting holes 33 to35 and the communicating portions 33 c to 35 c are sandwiches betweenthe extending portions 30 b to 32 b of the mounting portions 30 to 32and the main body 27. As a result, the lamp clip 18 is to the chassis 14and the reflection sheet 23 when it is mounted (FIG. 12). Moreover,slide amounts of the lamp clip 18 necessary for attachment/detachmentare set approximately equal to the length of lines connecting thecenters 33 aC to 35 aC of the large diameter portions 33 a to 35 a andthe centers 33 bC to 35 bC of the small diameter portions 33 b to 35 b.

The direction (the X-axis direction towards a near side as illustratedin FIGS. 9 and 11 (rightward in FIGS. 7 and 8)) of sliding of the lampclip 18 associated with mounting is consistent with a direction headingfrom the large diameter portions 33 a to 35 a to the small diameterportions 33 b to 35 b at the mounting holes 33 to 35. Conversely, thedirection (the X-axis direction towards a far side as illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 12 (leftward in FIGS. 7 and 8)) of sliding of the lamp clip18 associated with removing is consistent with a direction heading fromthe small diameter portions 33 b to 35 b to the large diameter portions33 a to 35 a. Hereinafter, the direction of sliding of the lamp clip 18associated with mounting will be referred as frontward. Conversely, thedirection of sliding of the lamp clip 18 associated with removing willbe referred as rearward.

In the present embodiment, the mounting portions 30 to 32 and themounting holes 33 to 35 (insertion holes 36 to 38) are arranged inrelative positions so as to restrict mounting of the lamp clip 18 to thechassis 14 in an orientation other than a predefined orientation. Inother words, during mounting onto the chassis 14, while the lamp clip 18enters a state where the main body 27 is set along the bottom plate ofthe chassis 14 and the long-side direction of the main body 27 ismatched with (conformed to) the short-side direction of the chassis 14,two such states exist that are 180-degree rotations of the main body 27around a predetermined point. In addition, the mounting portions 30 to32 and the mounting holes 33 to 35 are arranged so as to match eachother when the lamp clip 18 is mounted in a first state (one of thestates, the state illustrated in FIG. 11) among the two aforementionedstates, while predetermined mounting portions 30 to 32 becomeinconsistent with corresponding mounting holes 33 to 35 when the lampclip 18 is mounted in a second state (the other state, the stateillustrated in FIG. 13). Hereinafter, a specific configuration will bedescribed in detail.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the mounting portions 30 to 32 arearranged separated from each other in the long-side direction of themain body 27. The mounting portions 30 to 32 are linearly arranged alongthe same long-side direction (Y-axis direction). In other words, themounting portions 30 to 32 are arranged such that the centers 30C to 32Cthereof are aligned on a line L1 extending parallel to the long-sidedirection of the main body 27. Specifically, among the mounting portions30 to 32, the first mounting portion 30 is arranged at a position thatis approximately the same as a leftmost lamp gripping portion 28 asillustrated in FIG. 5 with respect to the long-side direction of themain body 27. The second mounting portion 31 is arranged at a positionthat is approximately the same as the lamp gripping portion 28 secondfrom the rightmost as illustrated in FIG. 5 with respect to thelong-side direction of the main body 27. The third mounting portion 32is arranged at a position that is approximately the same as a rightmostlamp gripping portion 28 as illustrated in FIG. 5 with respect to thelong-side direction of the main body 27.

A distance D1 between the first mounting portion 30 and the secondmounting portion 31 is larger than a distance D2 between the secondmounting portion 31 and the third mounting portion 32. Among thedistances between the mounting portions 30 to 32, the distance betweenthe first mounting portion 30 and the third mounting portion 32 locatedat respective ends is the largest and is equal to a sum of the distancesD1 and D2 described above. The mounting portions 30 to 32 are arrangedoff the midpoint BC of the main body in the long-side direction.

The mounting portions 30 to 32 are arranged asymmetrically with respectto a midpoint AC between the first mounting portion 30 and the thirdmounting portion 32 located at respective ends (the distancetherebetween is the largest). Namely, they are arranged asymmetricallywith respect to the midpoint AC that bisects a line connecting the firstmounting portion 30 and the third mounting portion 32. This is apparentfrom the fact that the second mounting portion 31 is arranged at aposition separated by a predetermined distance from the midpoint AC anda mounting portion does not exist at a position that ispoint-symmetrical to the second mounting portion 31 with respect to themidpoint AC. Moreover, the distance from the first mounting portion 30to the midpoint BC of the main body 27 and the distance from the thirdmounting portion 32 to the midpoint BC of the main body 27 isapproximately equal to each other. Namely, the first mounting portion 30and the third mounting portion 32 are provided symmetrically withrespect to the midpoint BC. Therefore, the midpoint AC between the firstmounting portion 30 and the third mounting portion 32 is assumed to beat the same position as the midpoint BC in the long-side direction ofthe main body 27.

The mounting holes 33 to 35 are provided in locations corresponding tothe respective mounting portions 30 to 32 described above. In otherwords, the mounting holes 33 to 35 are linearly arranged in theshort-side direction of the chassis 14 (Y-axis direction) as illustratedin FIG. 8 and arranged such that centers 33 aC to 35 aC of largediameter portions 33 a to 35 a thereof are aligned on a line L2extending parallel to the short-side direction of the chassis 14 asillustrated in FIG. 9. Moreover, the centers 33 bC to 35 bC of the smalldiameter portions 33 b to 35 b are similarly aligned parallel to theshort-side direction of the chassis 14. In addition, a distance D3between the first mounting hole 33 and the second mounting hole 34 isset approximately equal to the aforementioned distance D1 between thefirst mounting portion 30 and the second mounting portion 31, and adistance D4 between the second mounting hole 34 and the third mountinghole 35 is set approximately equal to the distance D2 between the secondmounting portion 31 and the third mounting portion 32. Among thedistances between the mounting holes 33 to 35, the distance between thefirst mounting hole 33 and the third mounting hole 35 respectivelypositioned at both ends is the greatest and is equal to a sum of thedistances D3 and D4 described above.

The mounting holes 33 to 35 are provided asymmetrically with respect toa midpoint HC between the first mounting hole 33 and the third mountinghole 35 located at respective ends (the distance therebetween is thelargest). Namely, they are arranged asymmetrically with respect to themidpoint HC that bisects a line connecting the first mounting hole 33and the third mounting hole 35. This is apparent from the fact that thesecond mounting hole 34 is arranged at a position separated by apredetermined distance from the midpoint HC and a mounting hole does notexist at a position that is point-symmetrical to the second mountinghole 34 with respect to the midpoint HC. Since the arrangement of theinsertion holes 36 to 38 is the same as the arrangement of the mountingholes 33 to 35, a description thereof will be omitted.

When mounting the lamp clip 18 having the mounting portions 30 to 32arranged as described above onto the chassis 14, the first mountingportion 30 and the third mounting portion 32 arranged at both ends amongthe mounting portions 30 to 32 are conformed to the first mounting hole33 and the third mounting hole 35 arranged at both ends among themounting holes 33 to 35. However, two such states (mounting postures)exist, namely, a first state (FIG. 11) where the first mounting portion30 conforms to the first mounting hole 33 and the third mounting portion32 conforms to the third mounting hole 35 and a second state (FIG. 13)where the first mounting portion 30 conforms to the third mounting hole35 and the third mounting portion 32 conforms to the first mounting hole33. The lamp clip 18 in the first state and the lamp clip 18 in thesecond state are 180-degree rotations from each other around themidpoint AC. In addition, while the second mounting portion 31 conformsto the second mounting hole 34 in the first state, the second mountingportion 31 does not conform to the second mounting hole 34 in the secondstate and insertion cannot be performed. Furthermore, in the secondstate, the second mounting portion 31 and the second mounting hole 34are to be arranged at positions symmetrical to each other with respectto a line passing through the midpoints AC and HC. Moreover, thedirection of rotation of the lamp clip 18 around the midpoint AC is setparallel to a face along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction(a face parallel to the main body 27 and the bottom plate of the chassis14, a face orthogonal to insertion directions of the mounting portions30 to 32 into the mounting holes 33 to 35).

Meanwhile, the mounting portions 30 to 32 are arranged at eccentricpositions with respect to the short-side direction (direction of slidingaccompanying attachment/detachment, X-axis direction) of the main body27. Specifically, the mounting portions 30 to 32 are arranged atpositions separated by a predetermined interval in the short-sidedirection of the main body 27 with respect to the center (midpoint BC)of the short-side direction of the main body 27, and the eccentricitydirection thereof or, in other words, the direction from the center ofthe short-side direction of the main body 27 towards the mountingportion 30 to 32 is consistent with the sliding direction (movementdirection) when the lamp clip 18 in the first state is mounted to thechassis 14 (FIG. 11). To put it the other way around, the lamp clip 18is arranged so as to be mounted to the chassis 14 in a state where themounting portions 30 to 32 eccentrically arranged with respect to theshort-side direction of the main body 27 are oriented frontward. Thestate where the mounting portions 30 to 32 are oriented frontward is tobe the first state where all of the mounting portions 30 to 32 areconsistent with the mounting holes 33 to 35. Therefore, when the lampclip 18 is set to the first state, the mounting portions 30 to 32 are tobe displaced frontward from the center of the short-side direction ofthe main body 27 and the line L1 connecting the centers 30C to 32C ofthe mounting portions 30 to 32 is to be arranged at a position displacedfrontward with respect to the midpoint BC of the main body 27. Inaddition, the mounting portions 30 to 32 are arranged at front endpositions of the main body 27 in the first state and the line L1connecting the centers 30C to 32C is consistent with a front end face ofthe main body 27.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, projecting portions 43 and 44respectively protruding forward and backward are provided at both frontand rear ends along the long-side direction of the main body 27.Specifically, a front end along the long-side direction of the main body27 or, in other words, an end on the eccentric side of the mountingportions 30 to 32 is provided by first projecting portions 43 thatprotrude frontward or, in other words, in a direction from the center ofthe short-side direction of the main body 27 towards the mountingportions 30 to 32. Four first projecting portions 43 are providedaligned at positions separated from each other in the long-sidedirection of the main body 27 and corresponding to the lamp grippingportions 28 in the same long-side direction. In other words, the firstprojecting portions 43 can be described as being formed partiallyprotruding from the front end of the main body 27. In addition, themounting portions 30 to 32 eccentrically arranged with respect to theshort-side direction of the main body 27 are coupled to the firstprojecting portions 43. Specifically, the mounting portions 30 to 32 arearranged at positions such that the base portions 30 a to 32 a thereofare coupled while straddling the front end of the main body 27 andprotruding base ends (root portions) of corresponding first projectingportions 43.

The width sizes (sizes in the Y-axis direction) of the first projectingportions 43 are set approximately the same as the diameter sizes of theextending portions 30 b to 32 b of the mounting portions 30 to 32. Inaddition, the frontward protruding sizes (sizes in the X-axis direction)of the first projecting portions 43 are set approximately half of thediameter sizes of the extending portions 30 b to 32 b of the mountingportions 30 to 32. Therefore, when seen in plan view, the entire area ofthe mounting portions 30 to 32 are hidden on the rear side of the mainbody 27 and the first projecting portions 43. In other words, themounting portions 30 to 32 do not protrude outward from an outerperipheral end face of the main body 27 and the first projectingportions 43. Furthermore, the front face and both lateral faces of thefirst projecting portions 43 corresponding to the mounting portions 30to 32 form tangential lines with respect to outer circumferential facesof the extending portions 30 b to 32 b of the mounting portions 30 to32.

On the other hand, a rear end along the long-side direction of the mainbody 27 or, in other words, an end opposite to the side of the mountingportions 30 to 32 is provided with second projecting portions 44 thatprotrude rearward or, in other words, in a direction from the mountingportions 30 to 32 towards the center of the short-side direction of themain body 27. The second projecting portions 43 are formed partiallyprotruding from the rear end of the main body 27 in the same manner asthe first projecting portions 43. Four second projecting portions 44 areprovided aligned at positions separated from each other in the long-sidedirection of the main body 27 and corresponding to the lamp grippingportions 28 and the first projecting portions 43. The width sizes andrearward protruding sizes of the second projecting portions 44 are setapproximately the same as the width sizes and rearward protruding sizesof the first projecting portions 43.

The mounting holes 33 to 35 are configured so as to be closed by themain body 27, the first projecting portions 43 and the second projectingportions 44 in a state where the lamp clip 18 is mounted to the chassis14 (FIG. 12). Specifically, since the mounting portions 30 to 32 areeccentrically arranged with respect to the short-side direction of themain body 27, a major part of the mounting holes 33 to 35 are to beclosed by a part closer to the center in the short-side direction thanthe mounting portions 30 to 32 of the main body 27. Here, since themounting portions 30 to 32 are arranged at the front end position of themain body 27, a major part of the mounting holes 33 to 35 can be closedusing an entire area (entire width region) in the short-side directionof the main body 27 and a part (the front end-side part in the directionof sliding accompanying mounting) of the small diameter portions 33 b to35 b among the mounting holes 33 to 35 can be closed by the firstprojecting portions 43. Therefore, compared to a hypothetical case wherethe mounting portions 30 to 32 are arranged at the center of theshort-side direction of the main body 27, the main body 27 can bedownsized in the short-side direction by just the amount of displacementof the mounting portions 30 to 32 from the center.

Furthermore, in a mounted state, a part (the rear end-side part in thedirection of sliding accompanying mounting) of the large diameterportions 33 a to 35 a among the mounting holes 33 to 35 can be closed bythe second projecting portions 44 (FIG. 12). In other words, since thesecond projecting portions 44 are partially provided on the main body 27so as to close the mounting holes 33 to 35, the entire main body 27 neednot be widened. As a result, the surface area of the lamp clip 18 can bereduced and risk of occurrences of luminance unevenness can be loweredeven when the reflection efficiencies of the reflection sheet 23 and thelamp clip 18 differ from each other. In addition, material cost can alsobe reduced. Moreover, the short-side dimension (width size) of the mainbody 27 is set smaller than a maximum length size of the mounting holes33 to 35 (a distance between points where a line passing through thecenters 33 aC to 35 aC of the large diameter portions 33 a to 35 a andthe centers 33 bC to 35 bC of the small diameter portions 33 b to 35 bintersect a circumferential face of the large diameter portions 33 a to35 a and a circumferential face of the small diameter portions 33 b to35 b.

The present embodiment is structured as described above. Next,operations of the present embodiment will be described. The liquidcrystal panel 11 and the backlight unit 12 are separately manufacturedand then assembled using the bezel 13 and the like to produce the liquidcrystal display device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Next, anassembly operation of the backlight unit 12 or, more particularly, anassembly operation of the chassis assembly CA involving mounting thelamp clip 18 to the chassis 14 will be described.

When the reflection sheet 23 is laid inside the chassis 14,corresponding mounting holes 33 to 35 are positioned so as to approachinto the insertion holes 36 to 38. Subsequently, an operation formounting the lamp clips 18 to the chassis 14 is performed. Mountinginvolves inserting the mounting portions 30 to 32 into the mountingholes 33 to 35 at scheduled mounting positions of the chassis 14 whilematching the long-side direction of the main body 27 to the short-sidedirection of the chassis 14. At this point, the lamp clip 18 may assumeeither one of two states, namely, a first state where the mountingportions 30 to 32 face frontward and a second state rotated by 180degrees around the midpoint AC from the first state and where themounting portions 30 to 32 face rearward. In comparison thereto, thepresent embodiment is arranged such that mounting of the lamp clip 18 isonly allowed when the mounting portions 30 to 32 and the mounting holes33 to 35 are in the first state. First, a case where the lamp clip 18 isin the first state will be described.

By conforming the first mounting portion 30 and the third mountingportion 32 on both ends among the mounting portions 30 to 32 of the lampclip 18 in the first state to the corresponding first mounting hole 33and third mounting hole 35, the second mounting portion 31 also conformsto the second mounting hole 34. When the lamp clip 18 is pushed into thechassis 14 in this state, the extending portions 30 b to 32 b of themounting portions 30 to 32 are respectively inserted into the largediameter portions 33 a to 35 a of the mounting holes 33 to 35 asillustrated in FIG. 11. At this point, the distance from the front endface of the first projecting portion 43 to the front end position of thesmall diameter portions 33 b to 35 b among the mounting holes 33 to 35is smaller than the slide amount of the lamp clip 18 due to mounting,and the distance from the rear end face of the second projecting portion44 to the rear end position of the large diameter portions 33 a to 35 aamong the mounting holes 33 to 35 is greater than the slide amount ofthe lamp clip 18 due to mounting. In addition, at this point, a distancefrom the center in the short-side direction of the main body 27 towardsthe mounting portions 30 to 32 is the same as a direction from the largediameter portions 33 a to 35 a towards the small diameter portions 33 bto 35 b among the mounting holes 33 to 35.

Once the extending portions 30 b to 32 b of the mounting portions 30 to32 pass through the insertion holes 36 to 38 and the mounting holes 33to 35 and protrude out from the rear side of the chassis 14, the lampclip 18 is slid frontward along the short-side direction of the mainbody 27. Consequently, the base portions 30 a to 32 a pass through thelarge diameter portions 33 a to 35 a and the communicating portions 33 cto 35 c and enter the small diameter portions 33 b to 35 b, and theextending portions 30 b to 32 b become arranged so as to oppose the rimof the mounting holes 33 to 35 among the chassis 14 on the rear side ofthe peripheral part. Once the lamp clip 18 is moved to its normalposition, the mounting portions 30 to 32 become concentrically arrangedto the small diameter portions 33 b to 35 b as illustrated in FIG. 12.At this point, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the rims (in particular, therims of the small diameter portions 33 b to 35 b and the communicatingportions 33 c to 35 c) of the mounting holes 33 to 35 are held betweenthe extending portions 30 b to 32 b of the mounting portions 30 to 32and the main body 27. Accordingly, the lamp clip 18 is held in a mountedstate with respect to the chassis 14 and the reflection sheet 23. Asillustrated in FIG. 12, when the lamp clip 18 is mounted, the mountingholes 33 to 35 are completely covered by the main body 27, the firstprojecting portion 43 and the second projecting portion 44 of the lampclip 18 such that no openings are present in the chassis 14 and thus theinside of the chassis 14 is not exposed to the outside. Furthermore,since the rims of the mounting holes 33 to 35 are sandwiches between themain body 27 and the flange-shaped extending portions 30 b to 32 b ofthe mounting portions 30 to 32 when the lamp clip 18 is mounted, asufficient holding area can be secured and a high retaining force isapplied.

A case where the lamp clip 18 is in the second mounting condition inwhich the lamp clip 18 is placed on the other way around from the firstmounting condition will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 13, evenwhen the first mounting portion 30 and the third mounting portion 32among the mounting portions 30 to 32 of the lamp clip 18 in the secondmounting condition are conformed to the first mounting hole 33 and thirdmounting hole 35, the second mounting portion 31 does not conform to thesecond mounting hole 34. Therefore, when attempting to push the lampclip 18 into the chassis 14, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the secondmounting portion 31 is not inserted into the second mounting hole 34 andbutts into (interferes with) the reflection sheet 23 covering thesurface of the chassis 14. Accordingly, mounting of the lamp clip 18 inthe second state to the chassis 14 can be restricted.

Meanwhile, there is a risk that a problem described below may occur whenmounting of the lamp clip 18 in the second state is to be allowed. Adescription thereof will now be given with reference to FIG. 13.Hypothetically, when the mounting portions 30 to 32 of the lamp clip 18in the second state are inadvertently inserted into the mounting holes33 to 35, the second projecting portion 44 and the main body 27 are tobe arranged on the side of the small diameter portions 33 b to 35 b withrespect to the centers 33 aC to 35 aC of the large diameter portions 33a to 35 a of the mounting holes 33 to 35 or, in other words, arrangedfrontward in the direction of sliding accompanying mounting. Therefore,when the lamp clip 18 is slid to mount the same, while the smalldiameter portions 33 b to 35 b of the mounting holes 33 to 35 are to beclosed by the first projecting portions 43, the second projectingportion 44 and the main body 27 hardly contribute to closing themounting holes 33 to 35. As a result, a major part of the large diameterportions 33 a to 35 a is opened (exposed) to the inside of the chassis14. When the liquid crystal display device 10 is assembled and an imageis displayed on the liquid crystal panel 11 while turning on the coldcathode tube 17 in this state, problems may occur in that the largediameter portions 33 a to 35 a of the exposed mounting holes 33 to 35become visually recognized as dark spaces and light leaks to the rearside of the chassis 14 through the large diameter portions 33 a to 35 aof the exposed mounting holes 33 to 35.

Conversely, since the present embodiment restricts the lamp clip 18 frombeing erroneously mounted in the second state where the mounting holes33 to 35 are not closed and allows mounting of the lamp clip 18 only inthe first state where the mounting holes 33 to 35 are closed, all of themounting holes 33 to 35 can be reliably closed by the lamp clip 18. As aresult, the dark spots on the liquid crystal panel 11 are less likely tobe present or and leakage of light is properly reduced.

In this case, when mounting the lamp clip 18 onto the chassis 14, forexample, a state where the mounting portions 30 to 32 are displaced fromthe mounting holes 33 to 35 in an alignment direction thereof or, inother words, a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction (adirection perpendicular to the protruding direction of the mountingportions 30 to 32) is conceivable as a case where the mounting portions30 to 32 do not conform to the mounting holes 33 to 35. Specifically, acase may be sited where the second mounting portion 31 is aligned withthe first mounting hole 33 and the third mounting portion 32 is alignedwith the second mounting hole 34 and, as a result, the first mountingportion 30 becomes inconsistent with the third mounting hole 35 (referto FIGS. 5 and 9). However, in this case, since the inconsistentmounting holes 33 to 35 are not covered by the lamp clip 18 andtherefore become visually recognizable in addition to the occurrence ofa displacement of both end positions in the long-side direction of themain body 27 as compared to a normal case (FIG. 11), a worker canrelatively easily notice that the lamp clip 18 is in a state thatdiffers from a normal state. Meanwhile, when attempting to mount thelamp clip 18 in the second state that is an 180-degree rotation aroundthe midpoint AC from the first state that is the normal state, asillustrated in FIG. 13, positions of both ends in the long-sidedirection (the alignment direction of the mounting portions 30 to 32) ofthe main body 27 becomes the same as in the first state and is thereforedifficult to distinguish and the inconsistent mounting holes 33 to 35are covered by the lamp clip 18. As a result, a worker is less likely tonotice that the lamp clip 18 is in a state that differs from a normalstate and mounting in an erroneous state is more likely to occur. Fromsuch perspectives, the technical significance of being able to reliablymount the lamp clip 18 in a predetermined state with respect to arotational direction around the midpoint AC can be described asenormous.

The chassis assembly CA is assembled by mounting the lamp clips 18 ontothe chassis 14 in the first state as described above. Next, the coldcathode tubes 17 are housed in the chassis 14 and mounted onto the lampgripping portions 28, and the holder 20 is subsequently mounted. Thediffuser plate 15 a and the optical sheets 15 b are then laminated andset, and the backlight unit 12 is assembled. Then, after further placingthe liquid crystal panel 11 from the front side of the backlight unit12, the bezel 13 is assembled to complete the assembly of the liquidcrystal display device 10.

As described above, the chassis assembly according to the presentembodiment includes: the chassis 14 whose mounting holes 33 to 35 areprovided opened; and a lamp clip 18 including the main body 27 mountedto the chassis 14, the lamp gripping portion 28 provided on the mainbody 27 capable of gripping the cold cathode tube 17, and mountingportions 30 to 32 protruding from the main body 27 towards the side ofthe chassis 14 to be inserted into the mounting holes 33 to 25 andcapable of holding rims of the mounting holes 33 to 35 between the mainbody 27, wherein three mounting portions 30 to 32 and three mountingholes 33 to 35 are to be provided and arranged in relative positions soas to restrict mounting of the lamp clip 18 to the chassis 14 in anorientation other than a predefined orientation.

Accordingly, when mounting the lamp clip 18 to the chassis 14, if thelamp clip 18 is in a predetermined state, such a configuration causesthe mounting portions 30 to 32 to be inserted into the mounting holes 33to 35 and a rim of the mounting holes 33 to 35 to be held between themain body 27 and the mounting portions 30 to 32. As a result, the lampclip 18 can be mounted. On the other hand, since the mounting portions30 to 32 and the mounting holes 33 to 35 are arranged in relativepositions so as to restrict mounting of the lamp clip 18 to the chassis14 in an orientation other than a predefined orientation, the lamp clip18 is less likely to be mounted to the chassis 14 in an orientationother than the predefined orientation.

The mounting portions 30 to 32 and the mounting holes 33 to 35 arearranged so as to restrict mounting of the lamp clip 18 to the chassis14 in an orientation other than a predefined orientation amongorientations that are different from each other by a predefined anglearound a predefined axis. Such a configuration enables the lamp clip 18to be reliably mounted to the chassis 14 in a predetermined state withrespect to a rotational direction around the predetermined point.

Furthermore, the mounting portions 30 to 32 and the mounting holes 33 to35 are linearly arranged, respectively. Such a configuration enablesconfigurations of the lamp clip 18 and the chassis 14 to be simplified.

Furthermore, the mounting portions 30 to 32 are arranged asymmetricallywith respect to the midpoint AC between the outermost mounting portions30 and 32. The mounting holes 33 to 35 are arranged asymmetrically withrespect to the midpoint HC between the outermost mounting holes 33 and35. While such a configuration enables the lamp clip 18 to assume twostates that are 180-degree rotations from each other around the midpointAC between the pair of mounting portions 30 and 32 arranged at both endswhen the lamp clip 18 is to be mounted in a state where the pair ofmounting portions 30 and 32 arranged at both ends corresponds to thepair of mounting holes 33 and 35 arranged at both ends, all of themounting portions 30 to 32 will not conform to the mounting holes 33 to35 unless one of the states is assumed. Therefore, the lamp clip 18 canbe reliably mounted in a predetermined state with respect to arotational direction around the midpoint AC. In addition, while the twostates of the lamp clip 18 that are 180-degree rotations from each otherare difficult to distinguish from one another because positions of bothends in an alignment direction of the mounting portions 30 to 32 of themain body 27 or, in other words, positions of both ends in the long-sidedirection of the main body 27 forming a rectangular shape are the same,the present configuration is further useful because mounting in a statethat differs from a predetermined state is to be restricted as describedabove.

In addition, the mounting portions 30 to 32 include base portions 30 ato 32 a protruding from the main body 27 to the side of the chassis 14and extending portions 30 b to 32 b protruding from the base portions 30a to 32 a in a direction along the main body 27. In this case, theextending portions 30 b to 32 b are configured so as to be able to holdrims of the mounting holes 33 to 35 between the main body 27 when slidin a direction along the main body 27 from a state where the extendingportions 30 b to 32 b are inserted into the mounting holes 33 to 35.Such a configuration causes the lamp clip 18 to become suitable formounting by sliding the lamp clip 18 towards the chassis 14.

Furthermore, the main body 27 has a rectangular shape, a short-sidedirection of which is defined so as to match the sliding direction ofthe lamp clip 18 to cover the mounting holes 33 to 35. Such aconfiguration enables the main body 27 to cover the mounting holes 33 to35 by sliding the lamp clip 18 along the short-side direction of themain body 27 and thus the mounting holes 33 to 35 are not open.

Moreover, the mounting portions 30 to 32 are arranged off a center ofthe main body 27 in the short-side direction. The mounting holes 33 to35 are covered by a portion of the main body 27 closer to the center inthe short-side direction than the mounting portions 30 to 32. Comparedto a hypothetical case where the mounting portions are arranged at thecenter of the short-side direction of the main body 27, the main body 27can be downsized in the short-side direction by precisely the amount ofdisplacement of the mounting portions 30 to 32 from the center.

The main body 27 includes projecting portions 43 and 44 that project ina direction from the center of the main body 27 toward the respectivemounting portions 30 to 32 in the short-side direction. The mountingportions 30 to 32 are provided on the respective projecting portions 43and 44. Because of such a configuration, a surface area of the lamp clip18 can be reduced in comparison to a lamp clip including a main bodywith a wide overall area. As a result, luminance unevenness and materialcost are preferably reduced.

The main body 27 further includes the second projecting portions 44 thatproject in a direction from the mounting portions 30 to 32 toward thecenter side of the short-side direction. The second projecting portions44 cover the respective mounting holes 33 to 35. Because of such aconfiguration, the surface area of the lamp clip 18 can be furtherreduced in comparison to the lamp clip including the main body with thewide overall area. As a result, luminance unevenness and material costare more preferably reduced.

Furthermore, the extending portions 30 b to 32 b have a flange shape.Such a configuration enables a sufficient holding area of the rim of themounting holes 33 to 35 to be held between the extending portions 30 bto 32 b and the main body 27 to be secured and a favorable mounted stateof the lamp clip 18 to be maintained.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 15 or 16. In the present second embodiment, aconfiguration will be presented where arrangements of the mountingportions 30-A to 32-A and mounting holes 33-A to 35-A have been changed.Moreover, in the present second embodiment, parts with the same names asin the first embodiment described above will be denoted using the samereference characters and by adding a suffix -A, and redundantdescriptions on structures, operations, and effects will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, a second mounting portion 31-A among themounting portions 30-A to 32-A is arranged at the center of thelong-side direction of a main body 27-A. The second mounting portion31-A is arranged at a position where a center 31C-A of the secondmounting portion 31-A is consistent with a midpoint BC-A of the mainbody 27-A with respect to the long-side direction. On the other hand, afirst mounting portion 30-A and a third mounting portion 32-A arearranged at positions such that a distance D5 between the first mountingportion 30-A and the second mounting portion 31-A differs from adistance D6 between the second mounting portion 31-A and the thirdmounting portion 32-A. In addition, the mounting portions 30A to 32A arearranged at positions asymmetrical with respect to a midpoint AC-Abetween the first mounting portion 30-A and the third mounting portion32-A having the greatest distance among the distances of the mountingportions 30-A to 32-A and arranged at both ends. Furthermore, themidpoint AC-A is set to a position displaced from the midpoint BC-A ofthe main body 27-A with respect to the long-side direction of the mainbody 27-A. Moreover, three each of the first projecting portion 43-A andthe second projecting portion 44-A are arranged at positionscorresponding to the mounting portions 30-A to 32-A.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the mounting holes 33-A to35-A are arranged at positions such that a distance D7 between a firstmounting hole 33-A and a second mounting hole 34-A is approximatelyconsistent with the distance D5 between the first mounting portion 30-Aand the second mounting portion 31-A, a distance D8 between the secondmounting hole 34-A and a third mounting hole 35-A is approximatelyconsistent with the distance D6 between the second mounting portion 31-Aand the third mounting portion 32-A, and the distances D7 and D8 differfrom each other. In addition, the mounting holes 33A to 35A are arrangedat positions asymmetrical with respect to a midpoint HC-A between thefirst mounting hole 33-A and the third mounting hole 35-A having thegreatest distance among the distances between the mounting holes 33-A to35-A and arranged at both ends.

According to the configuration described above, mounting of the lampclip 18-A is only allowed in a state where the mounting portions 30-A to32-A are all conformed to the mounting holes 33-A to 35-A among the twostates that are 180-degree rotations of the lamp clip 18-A around themidpoint AC-A.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 17 or 18. In the present third embodiment, aconfiguration will be presented where arrangements of mounting portions30-B to 32-B and mounting holes 33-B to 35-B have been further modified.Moreover, in the present third embodiment, parts with the same names asin the first embodiment described above will be denoted using the samereference characters and by adding a suffix -B, and redundantdescriptions on structures, operations, and effects will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, the mounting portions 30-B to 32-B arearranged nonlinearly in a main body 27-B. Specifically, while a firstmounting portion 30-B and a third mounting portion 32-B are arranged atpositions (eccentric positions) displaced in a short-side direction fromthe center of the short-side direction of the main body 27-B, a secondmounting portion 31-B is arranged at a position concentric with amidpoint BC-B of the main body 27-B. In other words, the first mountingportion 30-B and the third mounting portion 32-B are arranged atpositions displaced in the short-side direction (sliding direction) ofthe main body 27-B with respect to the second mounting portion 31-B, andthe three mounting portions are in a nonlinear arrangement. An isoscelestriangle can be drawn by connecting centers 30C-B to 32C-B of themounting portions 30-B to 32-B with lines.

A distance D9 between the first mounting portion 30-B and the secondmounting portion 31-B is set approximately equal to a distance D10between the second mounting portion 31-B and the third mounting portion32-B. In comparison, a distance D11 between the first mounting portion30-B and the third mounting portion 32-B positioned at both ends in along-side direction of the main body 27-B is set greater than theaforementioned distances D9 and D10 and is therefore the greatestdistance. In addition, the mounting portions 30-B to 32-B are arrangedat positions asymmetrical with respect to a midpoint AC-B between thefirst mounting portion 30-B and the third mounting portion 32-Bconstituting the greatest distance D11. This is apparent from the factthat the second mounting portion 31-B is arranged at a positionseparated by a predetermined distance from the midpoint AC-B and amounting portion does not exist at a position that is point-symmetricalto the second mounting portion 31-B with respect to the midpoint AC-B.

Furthermore, a projecting portion 45 protruding rearward is provided ata position corresponding to the second mounting portion 31-B in thelong-side direction among a rear end of the main body 27-B. Theprojecting portion 45 has a greater protruding size than a secondprojecting portion 44-B and a difference between the protruding sizesthereof is approximately equal to the displacement of the secondmounting portion 31-B with respect to the first mounting portion 30-Band the third mounting portion 32-B. Accordingly, when a lamp clip 18-Bis mounted to the chassis 14-B, the second mounting hole 34-Bcorresponding to the projecting portion 45 can be closed by the same.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 18, the mounting holes 33-B to35-B are arranged nonlinearly on the chassis 14-B in the same manner asthe mounting portions 30-B to 32-B. Specifically, a second mounting hole34-B is arranged at a position displaced in the long-side direction(sliding direction) of the chassis 14-B with respect to a first mountinghole 33-B and a third mounting hole 35-B, and an isosceles triangle canbe drawn by connecting centers 33 aC-B to 35 aC-B of the mounting holes33-B to 35-B with lines. A distance D12 between the first mounting hole33-B and the second mounting hole 34-B is set approximately equal to adistance D13 between the second mounting hole 34-B and the thirdmounting hole 35-B as well as distances D9 between the first mountingportion 30-B and the second mounting portion 31-B and D10 between thesecond mounting portion 31-B and the third mounting portion 32-B. Incomparison, a distance D14 between the first mounting hole 33-B and thethird mounting hole 35-B positioned at both ends in a short-sidedirection of the chassis 14-B is set greater than the aforementioneddistances D12 and D13 and is therefore the greatest distance. Inaddition, the mounting holes 33-B to 35-B are arranged at positionsasymmetrical with respect to a midpoint HC-B between the first mountinghole 33-B and the third mounting hole 35-B constituting the greatestdistance D14. This is apparent from the fact that the second mountinghole 34-B is arranged at a position separated by a predetermineddistance from the midpoint HC-B and a mounting hole does not exist at aposition that is point-symmetrical to the second mounting hole 34-B withrespect to the midpoint HC-B.

When the lamp clip 18-B is to be mounted onto the chassis 14-B in astate where the first mounting portion 30-B and the third mountingportion 32-B are conformed to the first mounting hole 33-B and the thirdmounting hole 35-B, the lamp clip 18-B may assume two states that are180-degree rotations from each other around the midpoint AC-B. Among thetwo states, in the first state, since the mounting portions 30-B to 32-Ball conform to the mounting holes 33-B to 35-B, the mounting portions30-B to 32-B can be inserted into the mounting holes 33-B to 35-B andmounting is to be allowed. On the other hand, in the second state, sincethe second mounting portion 31-B does not conform to the second mountinghole 34-B, mounting is to be restricted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the mountingportions 30-B to 32-B and the mounting holes 33-B to 35-B arerespectively nonlinearly arranged. Such a configuration can favorablyrestrict the lamp clip 18-B from being mounted in a state that differsfrom a predetermined state.

In addition, the mounting portions 30-B to 32-B are arranged such thatdistances of different sizes exist among the distances between themounting portions 30-B to 32-B and the mounting holes 33-B to 35-B arearranged such that distances of different sizes exist among thedistances between the mounting holes 33-B to 35-B. The mounting portions30-B to 32-B are arranged at positions asymmetrical with respect to themidpoint AC-B between the pair of mounting portions 30-B and 32-B havingthe greatest distance, and the mounting holes 33-B to 35-B are arrangedat positions asymmetrical with respect to the midpoint HC-B between thepair of mounting holes 33-B and 35-B having the greatest distance.

Due to such a configuration, while the lamp clip 18-B can assume twostates that are 180-degree rotations from each other around the midpointAC-B between the pair of mounting portions 30-B and 32-B having thegreatest distance when the lamp clip 18-B is to be mounted in a statewhere the pair of mounting portions 30-B and 32-B whose distance isgreatest among the distances between the mounting portions 30-B to 32-Bis conformed to the pair of mounting holes 33-B and 35-B whose distanceis greatest among the distances between the mounting holes 33-B to 35-B,all of the mounting portions 30-B to 32-B cannot be conformed to themounting holes 33-B to 35-B unless one of the two states is assumed.Therefore, the lamp clip 18-B can be reliably mounted in a predeterminedstate with respect to a rotational direction around the midpoint AC-B.In addition, while the two states of the lamp clip 18-B that are180-degree rotations from each other are difficult to distinguish fromone another because positions of both ends in an alignment direction ofthe pair of mounting portions 30-B and 32-B whose distance is greatestamong the distances between the mounting portions 30-B to 32-B of themain body 27-B or, in other words, positions of both ends in thelong-side direction of the main body 27-B forming a rectangular shapeare the same, the present configuration is further useful becausemounting in a state that differs from a predetermined state is to berestricted as described above.

Fourth Embodiment

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 19 to 21. In the present fourth embodiment, aconfiguration will be presented where an arrangement of a supporting pin29-C and arrangements of lamp clips 18-C with respect to a chassis 14-Chave been changed. Moreover, in the present fourth embodiment, partswith the same names as in the first embodiment described above will bedenoted using the same reference characters and by adding a suffix -C,and redundant descriptions on structures, operations, and effects willbe omitted.

As illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20, the supporting pin 29-C is arrangedat a position offset (displaced) from a midpoint BC-C of a main body27-C or, in other words, an eccentric position. Specifically, thesupporting pin 29-C is arranged at a position between a first mountingportion 30-C and a second mounting portion 31-C that is an intermediateposition between a left-end lamp gripping portion 28-C and an adjacentlamp gripping portion 28-C as illustrated in FIG. 19.

Meanwhile, the lamp clips 18-C are arranged with respect to the chassis14-C as follows. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 20, the lamp clips 18-Care mounted so that the supporting pins 29-C become eccentric to theside of the center of the short-side direction of the chassis 14-C or,more specifically, to the side of an imaginary reference line L3 thatpasses the central position and traverses along the long-side direction(the X-axis direction, a longitudinal direction of a cold cathode tube17-C, a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the mainbody 27-C, a planar direction of a diffuser plate 15 a-C).

Specifically, while the lamp clips 18-C are to be mounted in a statewhere the long-side direction of the main body 27-C is matched with theshort-side direction of the chassis 14-C (the Y-axis direction, adirection perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the coldcathode tube 17-C and to the reference line L3), since the supportingpin 29-C is arranged on each lamp clip 18-C at a position that iseccentric in the longitudinal direction of the main body 27-C,directionality is created in the mounting direction with respect to thechassis 14-C. Therefore, two mounting directions are set for the lampclips 18-C, namely, a first mounting direction where the supporting pin29-C faces downward as illustrated in FIG. 20 (first mounting posture,first mounted state) and a second mounting direction where thesupporting pin 29-C faces upward in FIG. 20 which is an oppositedirection to the first mounting direction (second mounting posture,second mounted state). In addition, the lamp clip 18-C to be mounted ina first area A1 on an upper side of the reference line L3 as illustratedin FIG. 20 on a bottom plate of the chassis 14-C is arranged in thefirst mounting direction, and the lamp clip 18-C to be mounted in asecond area A2 on a lower side in FIG. 20 is arranged in the secondmounting direction. In other words, the lamp clips 18-C are divided intoa first lamp clip group set in the first mounting direction and a secondlamp clip group on the other side of the reference line L3 (that is aborder) and set in the second mounting direction, and the supportingpins 29-C eccentrically arranged at each main body 27-C are all arrangednear the reference line L3.

In this state, distances from the reference line L3 to the supportingpin 29-C of the lamp clips 18-C are respectively smaller than distancesfrom the reference line L3 to a midpoint BC-C of the main body 27-C ofthe lamp clips 18-C. Accordingly, the support position of eachsupporting pin 29-C with respect to the diffuser plate 15 a-C becomesclose to the center of the short-side direction of the diffuser plate 15a-C or, in other words, the nearer to the center of the short-sidedirection of the diffuser plate 15 a-C, the higher the distributiondensity of the supporting pins 29-C. When a thermal expansion or athermal contraction occurs on the diffuser plate 15 a-C, due tostructural characteristics, the nearer to the center of the screen, themore likely deflection or warpage to the side of the cold cathode tube17-C occurs. However, since a large number of supporting pins 29-C isdistributed near the center of the screen, deflection and warpage can befavorably regulated. Meanwhile, there is an optimum (minimum)number/arrangement of the lamp clips 18-C for supporting the coldcathode tube 17-C. During such an optimum predetermined arrangement, byarranging the lamp clips 18-C on which supporting pins 29-C have beeneccentrically arranged such that the supporting pins 29-C approach thereference line L3, an effect of favorably regulating deflection andwarpage of the diffuser plate 15 a-C can be obtained.

In addition, the mounting holes 33-C to 35-C for mounting the lamp clips18-C are arranged on the chassis 14-C as follows. That is, asillustrated in FIG. 21, the mounting holes 33-C to 35-C are arrangedsuch that the first mounting hole 33-C is eccentrically located on theside of the reference line L3 on the chassis 14-C. Specifically, whilethe first mounting hole 33-C among the three mounting portions 30-C to32-C is arranged on the lower side as illustrated in FIG. 21 in a firstarea A1 of the chassis 14-C, the first mounting hole 33-C among thethree mounting portions 30-C to 32-C is arranged on the upper side inFIG. 21 in a second area. In addition, the distance from the referenceline L3 to the first mounting hole 33-C is set respectively shorter thanthe distances from the reference line to the second mounting hole 34-Cor the third mounting hole 35-C. Moreover, among the mounting holes 33-Cto 35-C, the first mounting hole 33-C corresponds to the first mountingportion 30-C of the lamp clip 18-C. Since the first mounting portion30-C is positioned in a direction from the midpoint BC-C of the mainbody 27-C towards the supporting pin 29-C among the mounting portions30-C to 32-C, the first mounting hole 33-C can be described as beingeccentrically located so as to correspond to the direction ofeccentricity of the supporting pin 29-C.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the planardiffuser plate 15 a-C is arranged at a position where the lamp clip 18-Cis interposed between the chassis 14-C, and the supporting pin 29-Ccapable of supporting the diffuser plate 15 a-C is provided on the mainbody 27-C at an eccentric position. Such an arrangement enables the lampclip 18-C having the supporting pin 29-C eccentrically arranged on themain body 27-C to be mounted onto the chassis 14-C in an appropriatestate.

In addition, a plurality of lamp clips 18-C are mounted on the chassis14-C. Each lamp clip 18-C is arranged such that a distance from areference line L3 set along a planar direction of the diffuser plate 15a-C to the supporting pin 29-C is shorter than a distance from thereference line L3 to the midpoint BC-C of the main body 27-C. Due tosuch a configuration, since the lamp clips 18-C are arranged such thatthe supporting pins 29-C are eccentrically positioned on the main bodies27-C and the distance from the reference line L3 set along a planardirection of the diffuser plate 15 a-C to the supporting pins 29-C isshorter than a distance from the reference line L3 to the midpoint BC-Cof the main body 27-C, the closer to the reference line L3, the greaterthe distribution density of the supporting pins 29-C in the plane of thediffuser plate 15 a-C. In addition, by setting the reference line L3 ata position on the diffuser plate 15 a-C where occurrences of deflectionand warpage are a concern, the diffuser plate 15 a-C can be favorablysupported by the supporting pins 29-C and occurrences of deflection andwarpage can be adequately reduced.

Fifth Embodiment

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 22 or 23. In the present fifth embodiment, aconfiguration will be presented where the arrangement of lamp grippingportions 28-D at a lamp clip 18-D differs from the arrangement accordingto the fourth embodiment described above. Moreover, in the present fifthembodiment, parts with the same names as in the fourth embodimentdescribed above will be denoted using the same reference characters andby adding a suffix -D, and redundant descriptions on structures,operations, and effects will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, a plurality of (four) lamp gripping portions28-D is arranged aligned at positions on the main body 27-D separated ina long-side direction thereof. Pitches (intervals) PT1 to PT3 betweenthe lamp gripping portions 28-D are set so as to differ from each other.Specifically, the pitches between adjacent lamp gripping portions 28-Dare set such that the pitch becomes smaller towards the end on the sideof a supporting pin 29-D on the main body 27-D and becomes largertowards the end on the opposite side to the supporting pin 29-D. Inother words, the distribution density of the lamp gripping portions 28-Don the lamp clip 18-D is set so that the closer to the side of theeccentrically arranged supporting pin 29-D, the higher the distributiondensity.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 23, a plurality of lamp clips 18-Dstructured as described above is mounted onto the chassis 14-D. Thepitches PT1 to PT3 between the lamp gripping portions 28-D are set so asto differ from each other depending on where the lamp clips 18-D aremounted on the chassis 14-D. Specifically, a largest interval PTmaxbetween lamp gripping portions 28-D at a lamp clip 18-D installed near areference line L3-D on the chassis 14-D is set so as to be smaller thana smallest interval PTmin between lamp gripping portions 28-D at a lampclip 18-D mounted further away from the reference line L3-D than thelamp clip 18-D. In other words, the distribution density of the lampgripping portions 28-D on the chassis 14-D is set so that the closer tothe side of the reference line L3-D, the higher the distributiondensity.

Due to such a design, when mounting cold cathode tubes 17-D onto thelamp gripping portions 28-D, the pitches between adjacent cold cathodetubes 17-D become irregular and the closer to the side of the referenceline L3-D on the chassis 14-D, the higher the distribution density ofthe cold cathode tubes 17-D, and the closer to the sides of both ends,the lower the distribution density of the cold cathode tubes 17-D.Accordingly, the luminance near the center of a screen in a backlightunit 12-D can be improved and a diffuser plate can be favorablysupported by the supporting pins 29-D arranged near the center of thescreen.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality ofcold cathode tubes 17-D are to be housed in the chassis 14-D, and thelamp clip 18-D is formed so as to include a plurality of lamp grippingportions 28-D, wherein each lamp gripping portion 28-D grips a differentcold cathode tube 17-D and intervals between the lamp gripping portions28-D differ from each other. Such a configuration enables mounting ofthe lamp clip 18-D to be restricted so that each lamp gripping portion28-D is arranged at a position corresponding to an interval between coldcathode tubes 17-D to be housed in the chassis 14-D. As a result, eachlamp gripping portion 28-D is able to reliably grip a corresponding coldcathode tube 17-D.

In addition, the cold cathode tubes 17-D are mounted such that thecloser to the center of the chassis 14-D, the higher the distributiondensity of the cold cathode tubes 17-D, and a largest interval PTmaxbetween lamp gripping portions 28-D at a lamp clip 18-D placed near thecenter of the chassis 14-D is set so as to be smaller than a smallestinterval PTmin between lamp gripping portions 28-D at a lamp clip 18-Dmounted closer to the ends of the chassis 14-D than the lamp clip 18-D.Such a configuration enables a high brightness to be obtained byincreasing the distribution density of the cold cathode tubes 17-Dcloser to the center of the chassis 14-D. In addition, the cold cathodetubes 17-D arranged at irregular pitches can be favorably held by thelamp gripping portions 28-D of the lamp clips 18-D.

Sixth Embodiment

A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 24. In the present sixth embodiment, a configurationwill be presented where structures of mounting portions 30-E to 32-E andmounting holes 33-E to 35-E have been changed. Moreover, in the presentsixth embodiment, parts with the same names as in the first embodimentdescribed above will be denoted using the same reference characters andby adding a suffix -E, and redundant descriptions on structures,operations, and effects will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, mounting portions 30-E to 32-E include baseportions 30 a-E to 32 a-E that protrude from a rear surface of a mainbody 27-E and cantilevered extending portions 30 b-E to 32 b-E thatprotrude (extend) from distal ends of the respective base portions 30a-E to 32 a-E along the longitudinal direction of the main body 27-E soas to form an about right angle. The base portions 30 a-E to 32 a-E andthe respective extending portions 30 b-E to 32 b-E form a substantiallyL-shape as seen in plan view.

Among the mounting portions 30-E to 32-E, a first mounting portion 30-Eand a second mounting portion 31-E include locking protrusions 46 thatprotrude from the distal ends of the extending portions 30 b-E and 31b-E to the side of the main body 27-E. A tapered face is formed on facesof the locking protrusions 46 opposing the main body 27-E. Faces of thelocking protrusions 46 opposing the base portions 30 a-E and 31 a-E areconfigured so as to be approximately parallel to outer faces of the baseportions 30 a-E and 31 a-E and upright, and approximately straight alonga direction (Z-axis direction) perpendicular to a sliding direction(Y-axis direction) of a lamp clip 18-E with respect to a chassis 14-E.The faces function as locking faces for the chassis 14-E.

In contrast, a third mounting portion 32-E among the mounting portions30-E to 32-E is provided with a guide portion 47 capable of guiding amounting operation of the chassis 14-E to a tip of the protrusion 32b-E. The guide portion 47 is formed so as to have an incline such thatthe further towards the tip, the more separated the guide portion 47 isfrom the main body 27-E.

On the other hand, the mounting holes 33-E to 35-E are formed to a sizethat allows insertion of the mounting portions 30-E to 32-E. The chassis14-E has locking holes 48 adjacent to the first mounting hole 33-E andthe second mounting hole 34-E among the mounting holes 33-E to 35-E. Thelocking holes 48 are arranged at positions respectively displacedrightward as illustrated in FIG. 24 with respect to the first mountinghole 33-E and the second mounting hole 34-E or, in other words, aprotruding direction of the extending portions 30 b-E and 31 b-E.

The lamp clip 18-E is mounted onto the chassis 14-E as described below.That is, when the lamp clip 18-E is pushed into the chassis 14-E in astate where all of the mounting portions 30-E to 32-E are conformed tothe mounting holes 33-E to 35-E, the mounting portions 30-E to 32-E areinserted into the mounting holes 33-E to 35-E. When the lamp clip 18-Eis slid in the protruding direction of the extending portions 30 b-E to32 b-E from the state where the extending portions 30 b-E to 32 b-E areprotruding to the rear side of the chassis 14-E, the extending portions30 b-E to 32 b-E become arranged on a rear side of a front part in thedirection of sliding due to mounting of a rim of the mounting holes 33-Eto 35-E.

In this process, the extending portions 30 b-E and 31 b-E of the firstmounting portion 30-E and the second mounting portion 31-E areelastically bent when the locking protrusions 46 are pressed against therear surface of the chassis 14-E. When the lamp clip 18-E is slid to adefined position, the extending portions 30 b-E and 31-E of the firstmounting portion 30-E and the second mounting portion 31-E are restored.As a result, the locking protrusions 46 are fitted in the respectivelocking holes 48 and hooked to rims of the respective locking holes 48with opposing surfaces thereof against the rims. Accordingly,inadvertent movement of the lamp clip 18-E in a detaching direction canbe regulated. In this state, the rims of the mounting holes 33-E to 35-Eare held between the extending portions 30 b-E to 32 b-E of the mountingportions 30-E to 32-E and the main body 27-E, and the mounting holes33-E to 35-E are closed by the main body 27-E.

As described above, according the present embodiment, the main body 27-Eis configured so as to have a rectangular shape and the slidingdirection of the lamp clip 18-E is set along a long-side direction ofthe main body 27-E, wherein the mounting holes 33-E to 35-E are to beclosed by a portion among the main body 27-E at which the lamp grippingportion 28-E is provided in a state where the lamp clip 18-E is mountedto the chassis 14-E. Such a configuration enables the mounting holes33-E to 35-E to be closed by a portion among the main body 27-E at whichthe lamp gripping portion 28-E is provided when the lamp clip 18-E isslid along the long-side direction of the main body 27-E. Therefore,since a dedicated portion for closing the mounting holes 33-E to 35-Eneed not be provided on the main body 27-E, the configuration issuitable for downsizing the main body 27-E.

In addition, the extending portions 30 b-E to 32 b-E are formed incantilevered shapes extending from the base portions 30 a-E to 32 a-E ina direction of sliding accompanying mounting of the lamp clip 18-E. Sucha configuration enables the rim of the mounting holes 33-E to 35-E to befavorably held between the extending portions 30 b-E to 32 b-E formingcantilevered shapes and the main body 27-E.

Furthermore, locking holes 48 are provided on the chassis 14-E adjacentto the mounting holes 33-E and 34-E, and locking protrusions 46 that canbe locked on the peripheral face of the locking holes 48 are provided onthe tips of the cantilevered extending portions 30 b and 31 b. Such aconfiguration causes the locking protrusions 46 to be locked to theperipheral faces of the locking holes 48 and enables backward movementsof the mounted lamp clip 18-E to be reliably restricted.

Seventh Embodiment

A seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 25. In the present seventh embodiment, a configurationwill be presented where structures of mounting portions 30-F to 32-F andmounting holes 33-F to 35-F have been further changed. Moreover, in thepresent seventh embodiment, parts with the same names as in the firstembodiment described above will be denoted using the same referencecharacters and by adding a suffix -F, and redundant descriptions onstructures, operations, and effects will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 25, the mounting portions 30-F to 32-F includebase portions 30 a-F to 32 a-F that protrude from a rear surface of amain body 27-F and pairs of extending portions 30 b-F to 32 b-F foldedback toward the main body 27-F from distal ends of the respective baseportions 30 a-F to 32 a-F so as to face the base portions 30 a-F to 32a-F. The extending portions 30 b-F to 32 b-F has a cantilevered shapeand is elastically deformable so as to approach the side of the baseportions 30 a-F to 32 a-F. Stepped locking faces are formed on distalends of the extending portions 30 b-F to 32 b-F. The mounting holes 33-Fto 35-F of the chassis 14-F are configured so as to have diameter sizesapproximately equal to the intervals between locking faces of bothextending portions 30 b-F to 32 b-F.

When a lamp clip 18-F is pushed against a chassis 14-F from a front sidealong the Z-axis direction, the mounting portions 30-F to 32-F areinserted into the mounting holes 33-F to 35-F and the extending portions30 b-F to 32 b-F are temporarily elastically deformed. When the lampclip 18-F is pushed to a normal depth, the mounting portions 30-F to32-F protrude to a rear side of the chassis 14-F, the extending portions30 b-F to 32 b-F are restored, and the locking faces are locked from therear side by rims of the mounting holes 33-F to 35-F of the chassis14-F. Accordingly, the lamp clip 18-F is held in a mounted state withrespect to the chassis 14-F.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the mountingportions 30-F to 32-F include base portions 30 a-F to 32 a-F protrudingfrom the main body 27-F to the side of the chassis 14-F and extendingportions 30 b-F to 32 b-F protruding from the base portions 30 a-F to 32a-F in a direction along the main body 27-F, whereby the extendingportions 30 b-F to 32 b-F are configured so as to hold rims of themounting holes 33-F to 35-F between the main body 27-F when insertedinto the mounting holes 33-F to 35-F. Such a configuration causes thelamp clip 18-F to become suitable for pushing the lamp clip 18-F againstthe chassis 14-F.

In addition, the extending portions 30 b-F to 32 b-F extend from tips ofthe base portions 30 a-F to 32 a-F to the side of the main body 27-F andare formed in an elastically deformable cantilevered shape arranged soas to oppose each other at positions separated by a predeterminedinterval from the base portions 30 a-F to 32 a-F. Such a configurationenables the extending portions 30 b-F to 32 b-F to be elasticallydeformable during the process of being inserted into the mounting holes33-F to 35-F and can reduce a force required to push the lamp clip 18-F.

Other Embodiments

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed by theabove description and accompanying drawings and, for example, theembodiments described below also fall within the technical scope of thepresent invention.

(1) In addition to the embodiments described above, arrangements of themounting portions and mounting holes can be appropriately modified,specific examples of which are shown in (2) to (4) below.

(2) While cases where a distance from a first mounting portion to acenter of a main body and a distance from a third mounting portion tothe center of the main body are set approximately equal have beendescribed in the first to third embodiments above, a configuration wherethe mounting portions are arranged such that the distance from the firstmounting portion to the center of the main body and the distance fromthe third mounting portion to the center of the main body differ fromeach other is to be also included in the present invention.

(3) While a case where a mounting portion (second mounting portion)arranged concentrically to a center of a main body is included innonlinearly arranged mounting portions has been described in the fourthembodiment above, a configuration where all of the nonlinearly arrangedmounting portions are arranged at positions offset from the center ofthe main body is to be also included in the present invention. Inaddition, allocation positions of the mounting holes can be changed topositions corresponding to the mounting portions.

(4) While a case where distances with different sizes exist amongdistances between nonlinearly arranged mounting portions has beendescribed in the fourth embodiment above, a configuration where all ofthe distances between nonlinearly arranged mounting portions arearranged so as to be equal is also included in the present invention. Inaddition, allocation positions of the mounting holes can be changed topositions corresponding to the mounting portions.

(5) In addition to the embodiments described above, the numbers andshapes of the mounting portions and mounting holes can be appropriatelymodified, specific examples of which are shown in (6) to (8) below.

(6) Configurations where four or more mounting portions and mountingholes are respectively arranged are to be also included in the presentinvention.

(7) When four or more mounting portions are to be installed in a lineararrangement, while the sizes of all distances between the mountingportions may be arranged so as to differ from each other, the mountingportions may also be arranged so that a plurality of distances of thesame size exists. In addition, allocation positions of the mountingholes can be changed to positions corresponding to the mountingportions.

(8) While cases where a protrusion among a mounting portion iscircularly formed as seen in plan view have been described in the firstto fifth embodiments above, configurations where the protrusion isformed in a polygon such as a quadrangle or an ellipse are to be alsoincluded in the present invention. In addition, the shape of a baseportion among the mounting portion can similarly be modified. When theshape of the mounting portion is changed in this manner, a correspondingchange can be made to the shape of the mounting hole.

(9) While operations and effects due to a lamp clip being mounted in apredetermined state with respect to a rotational direction around amidpoint have been primarily described in the embodiments above, forexample, even in a case where the mounting portions are displaced withrespect to the mounting holes in a direction perpendicular to aprotruding direction of the mounting portions even when the lamp clip isin a same state as the first state with respect to the rotationaldirection, any one of the mounting portions becomes inconsistent with amounting hole. As a result, mounting can be reliably regulated even insuch a state. In addition, for example, even in a state where a lampclip has been rotated 90 degrees from a normal state, any one of themounting portions becomes inconsistent with a mounting hole and mountingcan be reliably regulated.

(10) In addition to the embodiments described above, the number, shape,arrangement, and the like of supporting pins of a lamp clip can beappropriately modified. Specifically, a plurality of supporting pins maybe arranged. Furthermore, a supporting pin may be formed in a pyramidshape. Moreover, a supporting pin may be installed at an eccentricposition with respect to a width direction of a main body.

(11) In addition to the embodiments described above, the shape of a mainbody of a lamp clip may be appropriately modified. Specifically,configurations where a main body is shaped in a square in plan view, acircle, an ellipse, and a polygon other than a quadrature in plan vieware to be also included in the present invention.

(12) While cases where a cold cathode tube is used as a light sourcehave been described in the embodiments above, cases using other lightsources such as a hot cathode tube are to be also included in thepresent invention.

(13) While a chassis made of sheet metal has been used in theembodiments described above, a chassis may alternatively be made byresin molding.

(14) While an illumination device including a cold cathode tube has beendescribed in the above embodiments, the present invention can also beapplied to a chassis assembly not mounted with a cold cathode tube andassembles a lamp clip onto a chassis. In such a case, a configurationnot mounted with a reflection sheet and/or an optical member may beadopted.

(15) While a TFT has been used as a switching element of a liquidcrystal display device in the embodiments described above, the presentinvention can also be applied to a liquid crystal display device using aswitching element other than a TFT (for example, a thin film diode(TFD)) or to a black-and-white liquid crystal display device in additionto a color liquid crystal display device.

(16) While a liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal panelhas been exemplified as a display panel in the embodiments describedabove, the present invention can also be applied to a display deviceusing another display panel type.

(17) While a television receiver apparatus including a tuner has beenexemplified in the embodiments described above, the present inventioncan also be applied to a display device not including a tuner.

1. A chassis assembly comprising: a chassis including at least twomounting holes; and a lamp holder including: a main body having shortersides and longer sides and arranged to be mounted to the chassis; atleast one lamp gripping portion provided on the main body and arrangedto grip a lamp; at least two mounting portions protruding from the mainbody so as to extend toward the chassis side to be inserted in acorresponding one of the at least two mounting holes such that a rim ofthe respective mounting hole is sandwiched between the correspondingmounting portion and the main body; wherein each of the at least twomounting portions is arranged asymmetrically with respect to a midpointof the shorter sides of the main body.
 2. The chassis assembly accordingto claim 1, wherein centers of the at least two mounting portions arearranged along an imaginary straight line that is asymmetrical relativeto the midpoint of the shorter sides of the main body.
 3. The chassisassembly according to claim 1, wherein the main body includes first andsecond projecting portions provided for each of the at least twomounting portions, the first and second projecting portions extendingoppositely in the direction of the shorter sides of the main body, andeach of the at least two mounting portions is located closer to arespective end of one of the first and second projecting portions than arespective end of the other of the first and second projecting portions.4. The chassis assembly according to claim 3, wherein the at least twomounting portions are provided on the respective one of the first andsecond projecting portions that is located closer to the at least twomounting portions.
 5. The chassis assembly according to claim 3, whereinthe other of the first and second projecting portions are arranged tocover the at least two mounting holes of the chassis.
 6. The chassisassembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lamp grippingportion comprises at least two lamp gripping portions disposed onopposite ends of the main body.
 7. The chassis assembly according toclaim 6, wherein the at least two lamp gripping portions comprise aneven number of lamp gripping portions.
 8. The chassis assembly accordingto claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two mounting portionsis arranged asymmetrically with respect to a midpoint of the longersides of the main body.
 9. The chassis assembly according to claim 1,wherein the at least two mounting portions comprise an odd number ofmounting portions.
 10. The chassis assembly according to claim 9,wherein the at least two mounting portions comprise three mountingportions.
 11. The chassis assembly according to claim 10, wherein eachof the three mounting portions is arranged asymmetrically with respectto a midpoint of the shorter sides of the main body.
 12. The chassisassembly according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the threemounting portions is arranged asymmetrically with respect to a midpointof the longer sides of the main body.
 13. The chassis assembly accordingto claim 10, wherein centers of at least two of the three mountingportions are arranged along an imaginary straight line and a center of aremaining one of the three mounting portions is not arranged along theimaginary straight line.
 14. The chassis assembly according to claim 1,wherein the at least two mounting holes include a wide portion and anarrow portion, the at least two mounting portions are inserted in thecorresponding wide portion of a respective one of the at least twomounting holes and are slid to the corresponding narrow portion.
 15. Thechassis assembly according to claim 1, wherein a direction in which theshorter sides of the main body extend matches a sliding direction inwhich the lamp holder slides relative to the chassis so as to cover theat least two mounting holes.
 16. An illumination device comprising: thechassis assembly according to claim 1; a lamp housed in the chassis; andan optical member arranged such that the lamp is located between thechassis and the optical member.
 17. A display device comprising: theillumination device according to claim 16; and a display panel arrangedin front of the illumination device.
 18. The display device according toclaim 17, wherein the display panel is a liquid crystal panelconstructed such that a liquid crystal is sealed between a pair ofsubstrates.
 19. A television receiver apparatus comprising the displaydevice according to claim 17.